Comments: FINNERTY'S FORTUNE just missed in her debut at Ellis and hooks a fairly weak bunch. Give her the edge in the opener. PIX MIGHT FLY exits the same race as the top pick and has the speed to be in front. She is the one to catch. DEVIL GENTLE drops in class.

2nd -- $15,000, Claiming ($7,500), 3 YO & up, 7 f.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

Kentucky Lightnin, M. Pedroza/Durbin

6-1

2.

Hanuman, P. Johnson/Aubrey

5-1

3.

Bandman, G. Kuntzweiler/Bradley

15-1

4.

Ryans Joy, S. Sanjur/Romero

15-1

5.

Texas Josh, R. Morales/Cook

2-1

6.

Across Time, W. Naupac/Radcliffe

10-1

7.

Arky Bill, J. Rocco, Jr./Tomlinson

7-5

Choices: 1. Arky Bill. 2. Texas Josh. 3. Hanuman.

Comments: ARKY BILL won at this same claiming level over this track back in June. He was a bit overmatched last out and will appreciate the drop back in class. He rates the slight edge over Texas Josh in a close call. TEXAS JOSH also drops in class and broke his maiden here at Churchill. He makes his third start back after a long layoff and is definitely the one to beat. HANUMAN is a contender.

3rd -- $16,000, Claiming ($5,000), 3 YO & up, 6 f.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

It Is the Way, R. Napravnik/Gibson

5-2

2.

Calbo, C. Lanerie/O'Connor II

4-1

3.

Onesteptogo, W. Naupac/Cundiff

15-1

4.

Espresso Joe, J. Vargas/Richardson

12-1

5.

Storm Make'n, N. Arroyo, Jr./Macias,

4-1

6.

Bahim, V. Lebron/Richardson

8-1

7.

P Improvise, R. Morales/Story

9-2

8.

Jo the Cat, M. Pedroza/Shorter

8-1

9.

Dictum, C. Borel/Johnson

12-1

Choices: 1. It Is the Way. 2. Bahim. 3. Calbo.

Comments: IT IS THE WAY comes in from Louisiana Downs off of two front-running wins. There is plenty of early speed in here but he seems capable of winning from just off of the pace and gets the nod with Napravnik up. BAHIM is the only horse in here with a win over the Churchill strip and is a contender. CALBO needed his last race and will improve.

4th -- $46,000, Maiden Special Weight, 3 YO & up, 7 f.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

Artemus Paperboy, A. Garcia/Catalano

7-2

2.

Risky Asset, R. Albarado/Foley

2-1

3.

Valdina Saint, R. Napravnik/Calhoun

5-2

4.

Justfollowmylead, J. Court/Rankin

15-1

5.

Squadron A, C. Lanerie/Romans

5-2

6.

Top Priority, J. Rocco, Jr./Hobby

15-1

Choices: 1. Valdina Saint. 2. Risky Asset. 3. Artemus Paperboy.

Comments: VALDINA SAINT hasn't raced since losing as the heavy favorite in his debut back in December. He has trained steadily since then and Calhoun has solid numbers with returning runners. RISKY ASSET ran some good races in New York and moves to the barn of Vickie Foley for his Kentucky debut. He is the one to beat. ARTEMUS PAPERBOY is a definite threat.

5th -- $14,000, Maiden Claiming (10,000) 3 YO up, 6 f.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

Feature Winner, N. Arroyo, Jr./Foley,

4-1

2.

Brass Set, C. Lanerie/Kenneally

3-1

3.

Lake Brilliant, G. Kuntzweiler/Phelps

6-1

4.

Tyler T, M. Pedroza/Vance

6-1

5.

Stanley Cup, R. Morales/Engler

12-1

6.

Red Trick, J. Vargas/Richardson

12-1

7.

Turf Ruler, V. Lebron/Freeman

10-1

8.

The Teuff Way, J. McKee/Reynolds

30-1

9.

One Man One Vote, L. Goncalves/Amoss

5-2

Choices: 1. One Man One Vote. 2. Feature Winner. 3. Brass Set.

Comments: ONE MAN ONE VOTE was third in a field of 10 in his last race on the Belmont turf and looks best on the class drop today. FEATURE WINNER could be tough to catch if he makes an easy lead from the inside post. BRASS SET showed nothing in his only two races but also takes the class drop.

6th -- $46,000, Maiden Special Weight, 2 YO, 6 f

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

Rous, L. Goncalves/Mott

8-1

2.

Irish You Well, J. Castanon/Romans

4-1

3.

Almost Famous, C. Borel/Byrne

5-1

4.

Squall Line, R. Santana, Jr./Asmussen

7-2

5.

Red River Rising, C. Lanerie/Gorder

10-1

6.

The Third Ace, C. McMahon/Jones

10-1

7.

Ford's On Fire, S. Bridgmohan/Carroll

12-1

8.

Coastline, M. Mena/Casse

3-1

9.

Z Lucky, R. Albarado/Lukas

10-1

Choices: 1. Coastline. 2. Squall Line. 3. Irish You Well.

Comments:COASTLINE is bred for speed and is training well for Mark Casse. He gets the edge in a field of first-timers. SQUALL LINE is in the capable hands of Steve Asmussen and has to be respected. IRISH YOU WELL turned in a bullet work at Saratoga and can't be overlooked.

7th -- $18,200, Claiming ($15,000-$10,000), 3 YO & up, F & M , 6 f.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

Go Daddy Girl, C. Lanerie/Romans

3-1

2.

Walkin in a Shadow, J. Castanon/Richardson

10-1

3.

Pretty Lil' Kate, J. Court/Gri

12-1

4.

Heaven's Saint, J. Rocco, Jr./Calhoun

5-2

5.

Exercens, B. Hernandez, Jr./Richard

8-1

6.

Tribal Rights, R. Morales/Mackey

8-1

7.

Salty Forecast, L. Goncalves/Flint

5-1

8.

Mannie Violet, A. Tamburello/Garcia

50-1

9.

Blue Cliff, R. Albarado/Scherer

10-1

10.

Marlene's Love, R. Napravnik/Baker

8-1

Choices: 1. Salty Forecast. 2. Heaven's Saint. 3. Go Daddy Girl.

Comments: SALTY FORECAST was in the money in five of her eight starts in California. She moves to the barn of Bernie Flint for her Ky. debut and gets the nod in a well-matched claiming test. HEAVEN'S SAINT dropped in class to get her maiden win and figures to be the one to beat. GO DADDY GIRL has been off since November but Lanerie takes off of Heaven's Saint to ride here.

8th -- $46,000, Maiden Special Weight, 2 YO, 6 f.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

Roll All Knight, J. Rocco, Jr./Stewart

20-1

2.

Pentafecta, M. Mena/Calhoun

5-1

3.

Oogeley Eye, C. Lanerie/Romans

8-1

4.

Malibu Heir, V. Lebron/Mogge

30-1

5.

Sea View Chico, A. Garcia/Jones

12-1

6.

Selway, R. Santana, Jr./Asmussen

5-1

7.

Mister Blues, J. Castanon/Proctor

12-1

8.

Vigorish, R. Albarado/Lukas

8-1

9.

Wingate Hall, C. Borel/Wilkes

5-1

10.

Kendall's Boy, R. Napravnik/Amoss

1-1

Choices: 1. Kendall's Boy. 2. Selway. 3. Pentafecta

Comments:KENDALL'S BOY was second behind the well-regarded Havana in his debut. He posted a recent bullet work over this track and looks like a solid bet to win here at short odds. SELWAY was favored in his debut but ran poorly. He is capable of improvement. PENTAFECTA debuts for Bret Calhoun, who is solid with first-timers.

9th -- $48,000, Allowance, 3 YO & up, F & M, 11⁄8 mi., tf.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

Holiday Drama, M. Mena/Foley

6-1

2.

Perfect Praise, D. Davis/Romans

8-1

3.

Strike Charmer, S. Bridgmohan/Carroll

3-1

4.

Alydorable, R. Napravnik/Maker

7-2

5.

Ocean Bertie, J. Rocco, Jr./Margolis

8-1

6.

Majestic Shoes, M. Pedroza/Ritter

50-1

7.

Casa Tua, R. Morales/Cook

15-1

8.

Nora's Song, L. Goncalves/Whiting

15-1

9.

Allegheny Angel, C. Lanerie/McPeek

9-2

10.

Zadina, R. Albarado/Pitts

6-1

Choices: 1. Alydorable. 2. Strike Charmer. 3. Allegheny Angel.

Comments: ALYDORABLE was a bit overmatched last out against Street Gem who has won five of her eight races this year. This is a much easier spot and she rates the edge with Napravnik up for Mike Maker. STRIKE CHARMER broke her maiden over this track back in June and ran well last out at Saratoga. She looks tough with Bridgmohan in the irons. ALLEGHENY ANGEL didn't beat much last out at Ellis but looked good doing it.

10th -- $14,000, Claiming ($7,500), 3 YO & up, 1 mi.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

Half Wed, A. Garcia/Maker

5-2

2.

Never Cross, A. Castillo/Ross

30-1

3.

Parisian Prince (IRE), N. Arroyo, Jr./Sanner

6-1

4.

Psychoanalyst, G. Kuntzweiler/Bini

12-1

5.

Dr. Hayaku, W. Naupac/Bradley

12-1

6.

Joe, C. Lanerie/Minnock

20-1

7.

A Single Man, D. Davis/Roberts

8-1

8.

Major Hope, R. Santana, Jr./Asmussen

2-1

9.

Wound Up, S. Sanjur/Hugo

50-1

10.

Prince Fairbanks, M. Mena/Lauer

10-1

11.

Dehere On Tour, R. Morales/Eubanks

8-1

Choices: 1. Major Hope. 2. Half Wed. 3. A Single Man.

Comments: MAJOR HOPE has been beaten as the odds-on favorite in his last two races but faces an easy field today. HALF WED hasn't raced since February but is the one to beat. A SINGLE MAN gets in light with Davis.

Liam Durbin's top picks

1. Finnerty's Fortune, Devil Gentle, Fleet Feet.

2. Arky Bill, Kentucky Lightning, Texas Josh.

3. Calbo, Storm Make'n, It Is The Way.

4. Artemus Paperboy, Risky Asset, Squadron.

5. Feature Winner, On Man One Vote, Tyler T.

6. Coastline, Squall Line, The Third Ace.

7.Tribal Rights, Heaven's Saint, Exercens

8. Kendall's Boy, Vigorish, Selway.

9. Strike Charmer, Allegheny Angel, Ocean Bertie.

10. Major Hope, Half Wed, Dehere On Tour.

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Friday's entries at Churchill Downs (for 9/13/2013)

Handicapper Mike Battaglia makes his selections for Friday's day of racing at Churchill Downs.